The largest National Park in Central India, Kanha National Park is occupied by the Hallon and the Banjar sanctuaries. It became a national park in 1955 and established as a tiger reserve in 1973. It was one of the best places to catch sightings of the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Indian leopard, and the Indian wild dog. The beautiful Greenlands is also famous for more than just being a spectacular wildlife sanctuary. They boast of having been Rudyard Kipling’s inspiration for the children’s masterpiece, The Jungle Book.
The Gond dynasty had been ruling the area for many years before the 19th century: they had their methods of cultivation, and they had in-depth knowledge of wildlife behavior. Kanha became a reserve forest in 1879. A.A.Dunbar Brander published “Wild Animals in Central India” in 1923 was completely based on the wild animals in Kanha. In the year 1933, the area has declared a sanctuary, yet hunting was regularly taking place here.
Movie on Kanha National Park
Stanley Breeden and Belinda Wright filmed the National Geographic film ‘Land of the Tigers’ here in 1980. The next year, Project Tiger started in Ranthambore and Kanha successfully. There was a dramatic rise in the footfall subsequently.
Dense forests co-exist with grassy meadows throughout the 940-square kilometer stretch of the grounds. Over 1000 kinds of plants and a diverse range of trees can be spotted, while the grass you step on during your awesome jungle also belongs to different species. Clear streams zigzagging their ways around the forest add to the beauty of the landscape.
Kanha: Success story of Barasingha
Apart from its tigers, the hard ground barasingha is one of the most famous occupants of the National Park. A special enclosure was made in 1970 to prevent them from wild beasts and to encourage more breeding. Consequently, the number increased from 66 to around 500. Sundry efforts to improve the forest’s wildlife have yielded results, as have the attempts to give visitors a better experience of the park.
Every season has its unique look in Kanha, and summers are not as tough to survive as is imagined. There is the onset of cool winds during this season, but it is normally dry. Sporadic rainfall also helps. Monsoon is also a rush of vibrant – the dryness of the summer months becomes lush green. Butterflies and other insects swarm all over, and water is abundant in the streams. Winter is undoubtedly the most pleasant season to visit Kanha. The air is chilly, and the trees are at their best color.
Things to Do in and Around Kanha National Park
Exploring Kanha and its surroundings is like another adventure on its own. You have come for the wildlife and the vistas, but you will want to stay for more than just those activities. While exploring the regions surrounding the park, make sure you tick these activities off your list.
Visit the Kanha Museum: Owing to the sheer size of the park, it’s no surprise that a museum was set up to reflect the landscape’s beauty. It is here that you could get a history lesson about the park and its significance in wildlife conservation.
Shop for Local Craft: Leaving Kanha? Take a memento of your visit back home! From traditional handicrafts to unique park-relevant goods, the place is a shopper’s dream.
Activate Your Shutterbug: During summers, Kanha’s wildlife is out and about more often. The sun-kissed vistas can double as a gorgeous backdrop for anyone passionate about photography.
Get Down & Dirty with Nature Trails: Among the many ways you can explore the park, one in which requires you to be up for a challenge is nature trails on foot! 2 zones of Kanha have dedicated hiking trails that offer a major adrenaline rush.
Be Blessed by the Beauty of Amarkantak: If you are the spiritual sort, you simply must drop by at Amarkantak. Known for its rustic beauty and peaceful setting, the place is home to the Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple and the Narmada Udgam Temple.
Accommodations in and Around Kanha National Park
When visiting Kanha National Park, there are two really good lodging locations you can choose from, and that depends entirely on how you wish to experience your tour.
If you like to keep the feel of the home intact, opt for a stay at the Roseate House in New Delhi. It’s an upscale hotel stationed in the capital’s only hospitality district, Aerocity.
If you’re the adventurous sort and wish to be zoned into the lap of nature, opt for a stay at the Singinawa Jungle Lodge. It is located within a sprawling forest land of 100 acres adjoining the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and offers the perfect blend of luxury living with an environmentally welcoming atmosphere.
Whichever the season, a trip to Kanha is a must to understand and appreciate the richness of Indian flora and fauna. As the increasing footfall speaks about greater interest in forest tours than ever before, Kanha is all set to become a feather in the hat of wildlife tourism.
Also Read: Places to visit near Kanha National Park.
Born and brought up in New Delhi, it was Sharad’s childhood passion to play cricket for India. While on a holiday in 1990, he saw his first tiger. Little did he know that this one sighting would immerse him into a realm where forests and tigers were all that mattered.
Sharad’s experiences as a wildlife photographer have inspired him to observe the tiger’s behavior for over 30 years and motivated him on his own journey as an entrepreneur. He started Nature Safari India Pvt Ltd, with a focus on “Conservation through Tourism.” to align himself to the mission of saving the regal species and repopulating them in India’s forests. In 2006, he set up one of India’s premier jungle lodges in Kanha National Park.
Sharad believes that there are many lessons to be learned from a tiger that can be applied successfully to leadership—both in business and in life. Here’s a new book by Sharad Vats on management and leadership skills to learn from a Tiger.
